PCIe Gen3 link design and tuning in server systems with end devices from multiple IP suppliers

This paper discusses link routing budget considerations for PCIe Gen3 designs in server systems. Special attention will be given to channel discontinuities and their effect on eye opening. Link training complications will be discussed with respect to equalization and tuning behavior when accommodating multiple transmitters and receivers from different vendor sources. Insertion loss plots and eye simulation data will be analyzed and interpreted. Hardware data will show that optimally simulated equalization cases may not necessarily occur.